FAQs

To strengthen the food safety surveillance system, FSSAI has envisaged audits of Food Business Operators through Private Auditing Agencies. Inspecting and auditing food businesses is a humongous task for FSSAI, hence in order to cultivate and foster the growth of compliance culture, FSSAI is enabling compliance through private recognised Auditing Agencies. A Draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2017 (http://www.fssai.gov.in/home/fss-legislation/notifications/draft-notification.html) has been prepared for the same.

Third Party means an organization or agency other than the Food Authority and Food Business Operators

Food Safety Audits will reduce the regulatory Food Safety Inspections conducted by Central or State Licensing Authorities.Satisfactory Audits will lead to less frequent regulatory inspections by Central or State Licensing Authority except the regulatory sampling. This will strengthen food safety surveillance system and encourage self-compliance. This will reduce the gap between regulator led enforcement & field level Non-Compliance.

Third Party means an organization or agency other than the Food Authority and Food Business Operators

Food Businesses classified by Food Authority for mandatory Food Safety Audits will be liable to get their businesses timely audited by recognised Auditing Agencies. Food Authority will declare the category/type of food businesses subject to mandatory audit based on risk classification and the frequency of audits. This classification will be based on factors like Food type, Intended Customer use, nature of activity of the business, Volume of the business & Method of processing/any other factors prescribed by Authority. Food businesses which are not subject to mandatory Food Safety auditing can also conform to auditing of their businesses on voluntary basis. This will encourage self compliance among them.

Food Businesses classified by Food Authority for mandatory Food Safety Audits will be liable to get their businesses timely audited by recognised Auditing Agencies. Food Authority will declare the category/type of food businesses subject to mandatory audit based on risk classification and the frequency of audits. This classification will be based on factors like Food type, Intended Customer use, nature of activity of the business, Volume of the business & Method of processing/any other factors prescribed by Authority. Food businesses which are not subject to mandatory Food Safety auditing can also conform to auditing of their businesses on voluntary basis. This will encourage self compliance among them.

a. Bachelor’s degree in Food/Dairy/Fisheries/Oil Technology or Biotechnology or Agricultural/Veterinary sciences or Bio-chemistry or Microbiology or Chemistry from a recognized university.
b. Accredited Lead Auditor course in FSMS recognized by IRCA/or any body specified by Food Authority.
c. Knowledge of FSS Act, Rules & Regulations.
d. Sector specific knowledge.
e. Any other additional requirement/mandatory training as prescribed by FSSAI

Fee for Recognition/Renewal of Recognition for a period of 3 years is Rs. 30,000/-

The auditing agency shall submit the audit report in the format specified by Food Authority to the Food Business Operator immediately after completion of the audit and also to the Central or State Licensing authority within fifteen days. The audit report shall clearly bring out the finding or non conformities. The non-conformities of the audit may be classified into two categories, namely,-
(I) Major Non-Conformity- When there is a serious failure in the food safety management system of the Food Business Operator, which may result in adverse health consequence possibly even fatal, the auditor shall report such findings to the Central or State Licensing Authority within twenty four hrs. The Central or State Licensing Authority after ascertaining the seriousness of the situation shall take regulatory action against the concerned food business operator.
(II) Minor Non-Conformity- When there is a shortcoming in the food safety management system or regulatory contravention of the Food Business Operator, which may not cause any adverse health consequence, the auditor shall set up an appropriate timeframe for its rectification and follow up, so that the non-conformance could be rectified.
Failure by food business operator to rectify the minor non conformity within the specified timeframe shall be referred to the Central or State Licensing Authorities, as the case may be.